On this day September 7, 1907, the American Ship Building Co. at Lorain, Ohio, launched the steamer CRETE which was christened by Miss Bessie Whitmore of Lorain. Built for the Lackawanna Steamship Co., the CRETE measured 480 feet in length, 52 feet in beam and 30 feet in depth. Capt. F. B. Huyck was given her to command.
Photo at top of page: CRETE September 1935 at the Soo
The CRETE sailed for Lackawanna through 1912 after which she sailed for Interlake Steamship – both being managed by Pickands Mather.
CRETE with bow damage, September 1936
On September 8, 1936, the CRETE collided with the CORNELL in heavy fog about 40 miles above Whitefish Point. The CRETE was downbound with a load of iron ore and sustained bow damage. The CORNELL was upbound light and sustained a large hole in her starboard side. Both proceeded under their own power to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
J. P. MORGAN, JR. damage from collision with CRETE, June 1948
On June 23, 1948, the CRETE collided with the J. P. MORGAN, JR. about 30 miles northwest of the Portage Ship Canal. Thick fog again contributed to the collision. The MORGAN was nearly sliced in two by the impact. Two of the MORGAN’s crew were asleep in their bunks when the CRETE struck and lost their lives. Three other crew members were injured.
The MORGAN, bound from Duluth to Cleveland with 12,000 tons of iron ore, managed to make it to Houghton, Mich., under her own power.
The CRETE, upbound from Cleveland to Duluth with no cargo, was only slightly damaged and continued on to Duluth.
The captain of the CRETE pleaded guilty in federal court to negligence in the operation of a freighter.
The CRETE sailed on for another decade but laid up in Toledo in 1959. Because of her size, speed and cargo capacity, she became too expensive to operate. By June 1962, she was sold for scrap.
Suzette Lopez
PHOTO CREDIT: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
